Joint for window shutter

ABSTRACT

Joint adapted to interconnect the ends of two adjacent side members of the frame of a shutter. This frame comprises a side member parallel to the direction of movement of the shutter, side member which is a metal shape having a solid elongated central web provided on either side with a pair of longitudinal flanges projecting from the web, the said pairs of flanges respectively defining an outer channel for the reception of a slide bar to guide the shutter and an inner channel; the flanges defining the inner channel terminating short of the end of the web to define transverse shoulders whereas the flanges defining the outer channel extend beyond the web. The latter further has a transverse groove between the transverse shoulders and its end. The other side member is a metal shape having two parallel side cheeks of which the outer faces fall respectively in the same parallel planes as the outer faces of the flanges of the other side member. These side cheeks have inwardly projecting strips and a bight that extends parallel to the strips, the latter and the bight being located at constant distances respectively from the longitudinal edges of the side cheeks to define inner and outer channels. A joint made in this manner is formed by inserting the strips of the cheeks into the grooves of the other side member, the inner edges of the cheeks then bearing against the shoulders of the other member.

Fortier ties t 1191 JOINT FOR now SHUTTER [75] Inventor: GermainFor-tier, Thetford Mines,

21 Appl. No.1 484,998

[52] US. Cl. 403/231; 403/382; 52/758 H [51] Int. Cl. E04C 2/54 [58]Field of Search 403/231, 382, 403;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,617,502 11/1952 Kessler52/758 H X 3,343,859 9/1967 Fox-Williams 403/231 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 983,471 2/1965 United Kingdom 403/382 PrimaryExaminerAndrew V. Kundrat [57] ABSTRACT Joint adapted to interconnectthe ends of two adjacent side members of the frame of a shutter. Thisframe comprises a side member parallel to the direction of movement ofthe shutter, side member which is a metal shape having a solid elongatedcentral web provided on either side with a pair of longitudinal flangesprojecting from the Web, the said pairs of flanges respectively definingan outer channel for the reception of a slide bar to guide the shutterand an inner channel; the flanges defining the inner channel terminatingshort of the end of the web to define transverse shoulders whereas theflanges defining the outer channel extend beyond the web. The latterfurther has a transverse groove between the transverse shoulders and itsend. The other side member is a metal shape having two parallel sidecheeks of which the outer faces fall respectively in the same parallelplanes as the outer faces of the flanges of the other side member. Theseside cheeks have inwardly projecting strips and a bight that extendsparallel to the strips, the latter and the bight being located atconstant distances respectively from the longitudinal edges of the sidecheeks to define inner and outer channels. A joint made in this manneris formed by inserting the strips of the cheeks into the grooves of theother side member, the inner edges of the cheeks then bearing againstthe shoulders of the other member.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 JOINT FOR WINDOWSHUTTER that enter into the ends of the side members-forming the joint.These screws must extend in, .a direction which is transverseandperpendicularjto direction of movement of the window shutter so that thejoint may resist the force necessary to move the, shutter. It is obviousthat the screwing of four screws in each shutter means labor cost whichcorrespondingly reflects in the manufacturing cost of the window whichwould usually have several such shutters. It is also obvious that if theuse of such screws could be avoided, the manufacturing cost of thewindow would correspondingly be lower. It

is precisely the object of the present invention which 2 suggests awindow shutter of which the side members can be interconnected and heldin position without the use of screws and without any danger that thejoints would break apart when the shutter is forcibly displaced.

More specifically, a joint made according to the invention ischaracterized by the provision of a channel formed at the end of one ofthe two adjacent side members that make up the joint, channel havingstrips projecting from two opposing faces and extending transversally ofthe aforesaid direction. The joint further comprises a male part formedat the end of the other adjacent side of the joint and inserted in thesaid channel. The male part is provided with grooves on opposite faces,which grooves receive the strips in such a way that when the shutter ismoved in the aforesaid direction, the strips in the grooves preventsevering of the two sides forming the joint.

The invention will be better understood by the description that followsof a preferred embodiment thereof having reference to the appendeddrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the two side membersof a shutter forming a joint according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a corner of the shutter, with part broken awayto show inner features;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views respectively taken along lines3-3 and 44 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, the joint according to the invention isshown as applied to a window shutter 1 adapted to be moved in its ownplane and in opposite directions shown by the arrow A. It will beunderstood that a window generally comprises several of such shuttersthat may also be of different sizes.

The joint shown in the drawings interconnects the ends of two sidemembers 3 and 5 of the window shutter 1, the side member 3 extendingtransversally and perpendicularly to the direction A whereas the sidemember 5 extends parallel to the said direction. A channel 7 is formedat the end of the side member 3 and is provided with strips 9 projectingfrom the two opposed faces 11 of the channel 7, the strips extending LII2 into the grooves 15 and it will thus be understood that when-theshutter 1 is displaced in the direction A, the force necessary tomove itwill be resisted by the abutment of the strips 9 against the sides ofthe grooves 15 andit will neither. be necessary nor useful to secure thejoint by means of a screw as waspreviously required to resist the forcetending to sever or separate the parts 3 and 5 when the shutt er becamejammed. .The afore-described joint is particularly applicable in thecasewhere the shutters 'have sides made out of metal shapes, for instancesteel or aluminum. In such a Ease, the side member 3 will have aU-shaped channel formed'by the aforementioned opposed cheeks 11 and,zfbight' 17 located upstream 'with respect to downward displacement ofthe shutter. In such cases, it will be noted that that thestrips 9project from the inner faces of the arms 11 of the U, y

In the case of the metal shape 5, it will be noted that the male part 13is formed by the end and in the extension of a central web 19 providedwith pairs of longitudinal flanges 21 and 23 on either side,respectively, of the said central web 19 projecting from the latter insuch a way that a portion of their edges constitutes shoulders 25-25against which corresponding edges 27-27 of side member 3 come to butt tothus ensure that the side members 3 and 5 stand at right angles.

The downward direction mentioned above is that during which the jointmay be dislocated. However, when the shutter l is displaced in theopposite direction, it is obviously not subjected to forces tending todislocate it.

As will be seen from FIG. 3, the flanges 21 and the inner face of thecentral web 19 define a channel adapted to receive a glass pane 29provided along its periphery with a water-proofing strip 3 1 of knowntype. Similarly, FIG. 4 shows that the channel 11 is intended tolikewise receive the glass pane 29 provided with the strip 31 whichcomes to butt against the strips 9. When the four joints of the shutterare assembled with the glass pane and with the waterproofing strip 31 inposition, friction alone is sufficient to hold them in positiontransversally of the direction A whereas the strips 9 in the grooves 15eliminate the possibility that the joints be dislocated, as previouslyexplained.

The flanges 23 in cooperation with the inner face of the central web 19define a channel 33 that can be mounted on a slidebar (not shown)serving to guide the shutter 1 when being displaced. Similarly, the sidecheeks ll of the side member 3 may extend beyond the bight 17 (FIG. 4)to define a channel 35 that can be applied against a waterproofing stripprovided on the corresponding sides of the frame of the window receivingthe shutter.

Finally, the side member 3 is provided with a lever 37 controllingsliding of the shutter, such lever being also of a known design.

I claim:

1. A joint interconnecting the ends of two adjacent side members of ashutter movable in either of two opposite directions, one side memberextending transverinwardly transversally of the direction A. The jointalso 7 comprises a male part 13 formed at the end of the side sally ofsaid directions and the other parallel to said directions, said jointbeing characterized by the following features:

a. the other side member is a metal shape having a solid elongatedcentral web provided on either side with a pair of longitudinal flangesprojecting from said web, the said pairs of flanges respectivelydefining an outer channel for the reception of a slide 3 bar to guidesaid shutter and an inner channel; the flanges defining said innerchannel terminating short of the end of said web to define transverseshoulders; the flanges defining said outer channel extending beyond saidweb; said web further having a transverse groove between said transverseshoulders and the end of said central web;

b. the one side member is a metal shape having two parallel side cheeksof which the outer faces fall respectively in the same parallel planesas the outer faces of the flanges of the other side member; said sidecheeks having inwardly projecting strips and a bight extending parallelto said strips, the latter and said bight being located at constantdistances respectively from the longitudinal edges of said side cheeksto define inner and outer channels, whereby the joint is achieved byinserting said strips of said cheeks into said grooves of said otherside member, the inner edges of said cheeks then bearing against saidshoulders of said other member. 2. A joint as claimed in claim 1,further characterized by the provision of a U-shaped waterproofing striphoused in said inner channels of said side members and adapted toreceive the edges of a glass pane for said shutter.

1. A joint interconnecting the ends of two adjacent side members of ashutter movable in either of two opposite directions, one side memberextending transversally of said directions and the other parallel tosaid directions, said joint being characterized by the followingfeatures: a. the other side member is a metal shape having a solidelongated central web provided on either side with a pair oflongitudinal flanges projecting from said web, the said pairs of flangesrespectively defining an outer channel for the reception of a slide barto guide said shutter and an inner channel; the flanges defining saidinner channel terminating short of the end of said web to definetransverse shoulders; the flanges defining said outer channel extendingbeyond said web; said web further having a transverse groove betweensaid transverse shoulders and the end of said central web; b. the oneside member is a metal shape having two parallel side cheeks of whichthe outer faces fall respectively in the same parallel planes as theouter faces of the flanges of the other side member; said side cheekshaving inwardly projecting strips and a bight extending parallel to saidstrips, the latter and said bight being located at constant distancesrespectively from the longitudinal edges of said side cheeks to defineinner and outer channels, whereby the joint is achieved by insertingsaid strips of said cheeks into said grooves of said other side member,the inner edges of said cheeks then bearing against said shoulders ofsaid other member.
 2. A joint as claimed in claim 1, furthercharacterized by the provision of a U-shaped waterproofing strip housedin said inner channels of said side members and adapted to receive theedges of a glass pane for said shutter.